Frequently Asked Questions about Insinkerator products

Below are some of the frequently asked questions regarding Insikerator products. If you have any further questions please send us a quick note. Click here.

Garbage Disposals

Is there an ideal way of disposing of food waster?

Trucking food waste to landfills and incinerating it generates emissions, and rotting food scraps emit methane, a greenhouse gas. Composting food scraps makes sense, but isn't always practical. Uising a food waste disposer can play a convenient and enviornmentally beneficial role in helping manage waste, used on its own or in a combination with composting.

How is using a food waste disposer enviornmentally responsible?

Using a disposer to keep food waste out of landfills has many environmental benefits. Garbage trucks used to haul food waste emit exhaust and at the landfill, decomposing food scraps generate methane and a liquid leachate that, left unchecked, can contaminate ground water. Alternatively, a capable wastewater treatment facility can convert ground up food waste from disposers into valuable renewable energy and fertilizer.

What is biogas?

Biogas (or "biofuel") offers a renewable and more enviornmentally friendly energy resource alternative to fossil fuels. When treating wastewater, methane gas is produced. A capable wastewater facility can capture the biogas and use it to power the plant.

What are biosolids?

Bisolids are the nutrient-rich organic materials that result from the treatment of wastewater. Biosolids contain many essential plant nutrients, and can be recycled as fertilizer or soil conditioner for use in agriculture.

What is the environmental footprint of disposals? Do they use a lot of water and energy?

Food waste disposers use less than 1% of a household's total water consumption (less than a gallon per person) and, on average, cost less than 50¢ a year in electricity to operate (3-4 KWh annually). In a foodservice operation, an average disposer costs 12¢ per day to operate. Additionally, durabel and long-lasting Insinkerator® disposers require little, if any, maintenance. Plus, because these disposers are constructed primarily of metal, they can also be recycled at the end of their useful life.

Is it true that disposals put a strain on municipal pipes and sewage systems?

According to more than two dozen independent studies from around the world, food waste disposers do not harm municipal sewer systems. In the United States, installing a disposer also contributes one point towards achievign the ANSI/ICC National Green Building Standard.

Hot Water Dispensers

What is required to install an instant hot water dispenser?

In order to install an instant hot water dispenser you must first have an independent grounded outlet (not controlled by a switch) to plug in the tank. The circuit should be at least 15-20 amps. Next, you will need a standard sink hold for faucet installation. Sink hole diameters for our various models range from 1.25 inches to 1.5 inches. Finally, you need to be able to connect into a cold water supply. We recommend a minimum of 30PSI for incoming water pressure. All other components for installation are included with the product.

How hot does the water get?

Our instant hot water dispensers can be adjusted from 160°F-210°F but comes factory preset at 200°F.

What is the tank capacity?

All models (except the Hot-1) contain a 2/3 gallon stainless steel tank. The Hot-1 is a copper tank with a 1/3 gallon capacity.

Is the tank under line pressure?

No, Insinkerator instant hot water dispenser tanks are not under constant line pressure like other water heaters, they are open to atmosphere.

What should I do with my hot water dispenser if it's not being used for an extended period of time (several months)?

Simply unplug the tank and drain the water.

Does the hot water dispenser need to be plumbed to a drain?

No; however, a drain pan plumbed to an appropriate drain or outfitted with a leak detector should be used in those applications where any leakage could cause property damage.

Can a hot water dispenser be added to an RO system?

Insinkerator can make no claim regarding our products' compatibility with other filtration systems including RO and therefore we can neither discourage or recommend hte use of such systems in conjunction with our Instant Hot Water Dispensers. However, we can share some facts with you.

RO systems produce highly purified water, which makes the water very "agressive". That is why RO faucets are completely plastic. Even though Insinkerator tanks are constructed from stainless steel, some of our dispenser faucets are constructed from brass. Additionally, RO systems can produce very low water flow rates, which can hinder the performance of the instant hot water dispenser system. At water line pressures significantly lower than 20 psi, the dispenser may "drip". Either of these two situations could lead to dissatisfaction, which is why we've introduced the first filtration system designed specifically for use with Instant Hot Water Dispensers.